Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlskrona and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlskrona and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Karlskrona vs $2,083 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,583 per month in Karlskrona vs $3,221 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,528 per month in Karlskrona vs $4,359 in Malmo, rent included.

Karlskrona is about 21% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Karlskrona and Malmo sit above the global median – Karlskrona by 20%, Malmo by 52%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.36 SEK 132
$15.40 SEK 152
-13.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.3 SEK 663
$76.7 SEK 756
-12.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.46 SEK 93.2
$12.22 SEK 120
-22.59%
Cappuccino
$4.09 SEK 40.27
$5.10 SEK 50.3
-19.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 SEK 13.29
$3.37 SEK 33.24
-59.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 SEK 22.49
$2.68 SEK 26.37
-14.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.32 SEK 72.2
$8.97 SEK 88.4
-18.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.14 SEK 50.7
$8.97 SEK 88.4
-42.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 SEK 14.55
$1.75 SEK 17.24
-15.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 SEK 26.75
$3.03 SEK 29.88
-10.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.74 SEK 36.84
$3.58 SEK 35.27
4.47%
Eggs
$4.61 SEK 45.44
$4.23 SEK 41.71
8.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.87 SEK 107
$13.07 SEK 129
-16.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.28 SEK 131
$12.22 SEK 120
8.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.32 SEK 171
$22.01 SEK 217
-21.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 SEK 30.99
$3.05 SEK 30.04
3.28%
Banana (1kg)
$2.37 SEK 23.33
$2.62 SEK 25.85
-9.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 SEK 29.10
$3.18 SEK 31.30
-7.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.55 SEK 44.87
$4.44 SEK 43.75
2.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 SEK 14.89
$1.74 SEK 17.14
-13.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 SEK 14.91
$1.52 SEK 14.99
-0.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 SEK 21.19
$2.48 SEK 24.46
-13.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 SEK 14.51
$1.31 SEK 12.89
12.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15 SEK 70.5
$7.79 SEK 76.7
-8.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.79 SEK 126
$11.80 SEK 116
8.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 SEK 19.43
$2.00 SEK 19.72
-1.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 SEK 17.30
$2.32 SEK 22.85
-24.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 SEK 29.91
$3.20 SEK 31.49
-5.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.5 SEK 725
$64.5 SEK 636
13.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$13.58 SEK 134
$6.42 SEK 63.3
111.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.00 SEK 19.76
$2.44 SEK 24.00
-18.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$82.2 SEK 810
$51.8 SEK 510
58.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 SEK 16.84
$1.76 SEK 17.33
-2.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K SEK 327.0K
$33.2K SEK 327.4K
-0.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K SEK 329.3K
$33.7K SEK 332.3K
-0.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.6 SEK 518
$140 SEK 1,384
-62.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.34 SEK 279
$26.87 SEK 265
5.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.87 SEK 373
$37.50 SEK 370
0.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.28 SEK 417
$43.40 SEK 428
-2.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.72 SEK 244
$29.75 SEK 293
-16.91%
Cinema Ticket
$16.62 SEK 164
$17.63 SEK 174
-5.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$164 SEK 1,618
$172 SEK 1,695
-4.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,416 SEK 33.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.9 SEK 975
$103 SEK 1,012
-3.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.68 SEK 204
$46.61 SEK 459
-55.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.8 SEK 806
$114 SEK 1,120
-28.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178 SEK 1,756
$156 SEK 1,542
13.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$686 SEK 6,762
$1,044 SEK 10.3K
-34.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$597 SEK 5,879
$816 SEK 8,044
-26.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,140 SEK 11.2K
$1,750 SEK 17.2K
-34.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$963 SEK 9,494
$1,377 SEK 13.6K
-30.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,944 SEK 29.0K
$4,211 SEK 41.5K
-30.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,555 SEK 25.2K
$3,287 SEK 32.4K
-22.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,546 SEK 25.1K
$3,113 SEK 30.7K
-18.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
3.02
39.74%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Karlskrona: September 15, 2026

Last update for Malmo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $686 in Karlskrona versus $1,044 in Malmo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlskrona versus $77.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $364 vs $383 – making Karlskrona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Karlskrona vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malmo cheaper than Karlskrona?
Yes – Malmo is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Karlskrona and $3,125 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlskrona or in Malmo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlskrona and $77.0 in Malmo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlskrona and in Malmo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Karlskrona and $2,083 in Malmo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Karlskrona or in Malmo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in Malmo at $2,083. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlskrona or Malmo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Karlskrona or Malmo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlskrona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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